History VideoGame / RomancingSaGa

It eventually got two sequels for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]], and was [[TheRemake remade]] for the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]] in 2005 as ''Romancing [=SaGa=]: Minstrel Song''. The subtitle was dropped for release in the West, which had [[NoExportForYou never before seen]] a ''Romancing [=SaGa=]'' title in the first place. An UpdatedRerelease of ''Minstrel Song'' for [=PlayStations=] [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 4]] and [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 5]], UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, PC, and mobile has been announced to release in winter 2022.

* NiceHat: ''Very'' common in ''Minstrel Song''. Most of the heroes have unique or distinct headgear; so do most recruitable characters and important [=NPCs=]... even regular [=NPCs=] can get nice hats if they're [[YouALLLookFamiliar the right model]].

It eventually got two sequels for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]], and was [[TheRemake remade]] for the [=PS2=] in 2005 as ''Romancing [=SaGa=]: Minstrel Song''. The subtitle was dropped for release in the West, which had [[NoExportForYou never before seen]] a ''Romancing [=SaGa=]'' title in the first place. An UpdatedRerelease of ''Minstrel Song'' for [=PlayStations=] 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile has been announced to release in winter 2022.

It eventually got two sequels for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]], and was [[TheRemake remade]] for the [=PS2=] in 2005 as ''Romancing [=SaGa=]: Minstrel Song''. The subtitle was dropped for release in the West, which had [[NoExportForYou never before seen]] a ''Romancing [=SaGa=]'' title in the first place.

* UnderwaterBossBattle: A few, though the most notable example is the fight against [[spoiler: Spite]] outside of Yucomb's Temple.

* MasterOfIllusion: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Illusion]]. [[FireIceLightning Fire, Ice and Lightning spells]], phantom {{Body Double}}s, plus the ability to [[StandardStatusEffects put enemies to sleep or snap friends out of it]].

* PirateGirl: Captain Silver.

* TheStoic: Claudia and Gray.

* WideEyedIdealist: Albert. Aisha also fits, drifting towards the {{Pollyanna}} later on.

* BonusBoss: [[spoiler:The Jewel Beast, and Saruin on subsequent playthroughs of Minstrel Song where you can offer the Fatestones and increase his power, resulting in quite possibly the strongest boss in the entire game when you've given them all to him. Death can be fought at anytime in the Netherworld, Schirach is a NewGamePlus boss as the Unlucky Woman quest carries over to future playthroughs if you didn't talk to her enough times in earlier playthroughs, once it's cleared, just speaking to Schiele once will clear the quest.]]
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler: One of the Assassin Guild's recruitment methods.]]

* FinalDeath: Watch those LP; if ''those'' run out...

** The 'generic' mercenaries you can hire have ''extremely'' low [[LifeEnergy LP]] -- only 3 or 4 compared to the usual double-digit range -- so avoiding FinalDeath is a ''massive'' pain.

* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou: If your chosen hero [[FinalDeath loses all their LP]], that's it -- Game Over.

* TheGodsMustBeLazy: Some of the gods take a more direct hand in matters than others; thankfully, the evil gods aren't the ''only'' ones who are active. Your actions attract the attention of different gods; [[RelationshipValues impressing them enough]] (by taking quests they find interesting/benefical or even just fighting different types of monsters) can lead to them abruptly intervening during battle, to impressive effect.

* MythologyGag: The Saw from ''VideoGame/{{Makai Toshi SaGa}}'' returns in this game as the Bilqis Axe, which turns into the {{chainsaw|Good}} with the technique: Fury of Bel'kwinith. Not as effective as the original as you can't cut Saruin, or his siblings into pieces as you did the Creator.

** A fair few sidequests have powerful monsters guarding important things, such as the Aquatic trio guarding a cave in Crystal Lake or the Clawbug protecting the entrance to [[spoiler: Merholm]].

* DevelopersForesight: The generic no-name mercenaries players can recruit early on in the game tend to have powerful weapons for the time they're available. Those thinking they can pilfer these characters for [[DiscOneNuke Disc One Nukes]] will find these items un-movable.

** As far as characters go, [[spoiler: Captain Silver and Frielei]]. Both have impressive stats, but LP counts that barely surpass starter mercenaries make them very frail.

* HostageForMacGuffin: [[spoiler: You are the hostage held by Scorn and Schiele has to give up her Fatestone to save you. However it was a RestrainingBolt keeping her dark magic sealed away causing her to awaken as her old self: Schirach, she quickly kills Scorn, leaving the stone behind for you to keep.]]

* LethalJokeCharacter: The secret characters [[spoiler: Freilei, Silver and Dragon Knight]] have absurd stats....and absurdly pitiful defenses. Not an issue for regular fights, but end-game bosses will eat these three alive.

* MacGuffinGuardian: Aquamarine, and Moonstone.

* AwesomeButImpractical: The secret recruitable characters [[spoiler: Frielei and Silver]] have incredible stats but absurdly low LP, making them liabilities in the end-game battles.

* ConspicuouslySelectivePerception: Becomes apparent when using the Lurk/Move Silently specialities to sneak past enemies; activate the right one and it won't matter if your footsteps are echoing loudly or you just walked right in front of that fish, so long as you've covered for the sense they ''do'' use to locate you.

* LethalJokeCharacter: The secret characters [[spoiler: Freilei and Silver]] have absurd stats....and absurdly pitiful defenses. Not an issue for regular fights, but end-game bosses will eat these two alive.

* StatusBuff: Bewitchery. All about self-enhancement, [[HealingFactor self-healing]], and the odd [[KiAttacks Ki Attack]].

* WithCatlikeTread: When pirates raid a town, they do so ''loudly''. With their [[EarWorm theme song]] blasting the entire time.

* SelfImposedChallenge: Easy in-game path to one: Collect all the Fatestones [[spoiler: and set them on the altars in the TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon. Voila, super-powered Saruin. Have... fun?]]

* SpoonyBard: While The Minstrel is a decent ally, easily available for most of the game, he automatically leaves whenever you enter a pub, [[spoiler: can't participate in any of the three ending quests, and if you complete the Trials of Elore, he won't rejoin you ''at all'',]] so trying to use him may be more trouble than it's worth.
** Also, the 'generic' mercenaries you can hire have ''extremely'' low [[LifeEnergy LP]] -- only 3 or 4 compared to the usual double-digit range -- so avoiding FinalDeath is a ''massive'' pain, to SelfImposedChallenge levels.

* CryogenicallyFrozen: [[spoiler: Freilei but that can also be due to the effects of the Obsidian Sword]]

* BearsAreBadNews: Brau isn't a ''bad'' bear, though he's definitely the strongest member of Claudia's starting team.

It eventually got two sequels for the {{S|uperNintendoEntertainmentSystem}}NES, and was [[TheRemake remade]] for the [=PS2=] in 2005 as ''Romancing [=SaGa=]: Minstrel Song''. The subtitle was dropped for release in the West, which had never before seen a ''Romancing [=SaGa=]'' title in the first place.

* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer - The sewers under Estamir and Melvir both qualify. How absurdly spacious are they? [[spoiler: Both have evil temples hidden in their depths.]]
* ActionGirl - Aisha, Barbara, Claudia, Sif... really, all the recruitable woman qualify.
* AllMythsAreTrue - The mysterious minstrel loves to regale heroes with various myths explaining the [[{{Backstory}} history of Mardias]], often relating to quests that the player recently took on.
* AllThereInTheManual - A lot of the history of Mardias and plenty of other details were [[NoExportForYou only published in supplemental materials in Japan]].

* AndYourRewardIsClothes - [[spoiler: Obtaining Mirsa's Armor drastically alters Albert's look. Also, Gray gets a slight appearance change upon completing his scenario quest.]]
* AntiGrinding - The Event Rank system makes grinding a generally bad idea... [[spoiler: Until late in the game, if you're trying to reach ER 22 and unlock Frosthold Fortress ''the long way''.]]
* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence - Happened to the hero Mirsa in the {{Backstory}}, as he joined the pantheon following his HeroicSacrifice.
* BadPowersBadPeople - The Sorcery and Necromancy spell sets exist ''purely'' so your enemies have more magic to choose from. You can't find anyone who'll teach these to you, so don't bother. [[spoiler: This also foreshadows Red Mage's [[TheMole true purpose]], like it wasn't obvious from the start...]]
* TheBattleDidntCount - Interestingly, this can apply to your own party: in several cases, if you get trounced in a fight, the game shows your hero [[YouCanBarelyStand kneeling]] and recovering (though any LP you lost is still gone).

* BearsAreBadNews - Brau isn't a ''bad'' bear, though he's definitely the strongest member of Claudia's starting team.
* {{Bishonen}} - One of the staple elements of ''Minstrel Song'''s makeovers.
* BlowYouAway - Aerology. Combines {{Razor Wind}}s with [[AnIcePerson summoning snowstorms]].

* BrainwashedAndCrazy - [[spoiler: One of the Assassin Guild's recruitment methods.]]
* BreakingTheFourthWall - After the credits of each scenario, [[spoiler: whichever hero you played as comes out, thanks the player directly and makes a few comments about how you helped them, then prompts you to [[NewGamePlus guide one of the others]] and disappears behind a door.]]
* BrokenBird - Schiele, a drifter who constantly requests to be left alone.
* BoisterousBruiser - Hawke. Sif also qualifies, gender aside.
* ButterflyOfDeathAndRebirth - Appears in the 'Creepy Butterfly' quest.
* ButThouMust - Averted in some places, with appropriate consequences. For instance, [[spoiler: killing Wuhan prevents you from taking a certain quest from him. You can still trigger it, but won't get the extra rewards.]] [[spoiler: In another case, if you want to keep the Aquamarine, you can't talk to or try to recruit Prince Neidhart, as the Aquamarine is his kingdom's treasure, and he won't let you keep it.]] Yet another case, [[spoiler:after a certain quest, you will be offered knighthood, which you can decline. However, everytime you decline, the one offering you knighthood repeats the exact thing again and again, everytime, until the game finally lets you decline.]]

* ChainOfDeals - You can end up on one courtesy of the [[FourIsDeath Four Elemental Gods]]. Notably involves one of the more obvious KarmaMeter moments: [[spoiler: [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential potentially murdering Galahad to get the Ice Sword]].]]
* CharacterLevel - The Class system. One of the bonuses of NewGamePlus is selecting a starting class for your hero from a list that you've unlocked, saving you some extra Jewels.
* CharacterMagneticTeam - Your hero. In most cases, all you have to do is ask. While ''[[GuideDangIt accessing]]'' [[GuideDangIt them can be problematic]], the actual recruitment typically isn't.
* CombinationAttack - Comes in two forms: regular combos and Vortexes, which add flashy graphics that [[RelationshipValues impress the gods]].
* ConspicuouslySelectivePerception - Becomes apparent when using the Lurk/Move Silently specialities to sneak past enemies; activate the right one and it won't matter if your footsteps are echoing loudly or you just walked right in front of that fish, so long as you've covered for the sense they ''do'' use to locate you.

* CosmicKeystone - The Fatestones, though only in the sense that they keep Saruin SealedEvilInACan.
* CowardlySidekick - Dowd is so nervous and flighty, one wonders how he became a thief in the first place.
* {{Crossdresser}} - [[spoiler: Jamil]]'s storyline ''starts'' with this; at one point he has to crossdress to get past a guard, [[spoiler: by passing himself off as the newest member of Wuhan's harem. Farah is extremely amused.]] While you can perform this quest with other heroes, ''they'' can't take this option.
* CryogenicallyFrozen - [[spoiler: Freilei but that can also be due to the effects of the Obsidian Sword]]
* CuteWitch - Myriam.
* DarkIsNotEvil - Death, in addition to being the god of [[ShapedLikeItself death]], is also the maintainer of the life cycle and the protector of lost souls. [[spoiler: He even serves as the harvest god for the people of Uso.]]
* DeterminedHomesteader - Most of the citizens of The Frontier qualify.
* DeusAngstMachina - ''The Nymph Statues''. [[spoiler: Three brothers pull up three sacred nymph statues in their nets, and decide to try selling them. This calls down the wrath of ocean god Yucomb, who sends his followers to get the statues back. Mainly through violence. After two of his brothers die horribly, the third decides to return the last statue to the sea and beg forgiveness. He's met by their baby sister... ''and'' their mother, who [[TooDumbToLive grabs the statue from him, ranting about how they'll live like royalty,]] [[DisneyVillainDeath then plummets to her death]]. ''In front of her only surviving son and daughter.'']] ''Jeez''...
* DishingOutDirt - Terrology. Tear chunks out of the earth, or just open a chasm under your enemies' feet, plus [[BarrierWarrior self-camoflage and powerful magical shields]].
* DoomMagnet - ''The entire Frontier''.

* EverybodysDeadDave - [[spoiler: If you don't [[GuideDangIt beat the]] [[BonusBoss sleeping Jewel Beast]] before he wakes up, this happens to ''the whole Frontier''.]]
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep - The 'generic' mercenaries are only known by their profession.
* FakeKing - Late in the game, [[spoiler: the villains take advantage of Theodore's {{Lawful Stupid}}ness by replacing him with a KnightTemplar BodyDouble, who promptly starts making unreasonable demands of his peers and declares war on Weiserheim because Lady Flammar won't give him the Ruby Fatestone.]]
* FieryRedhead - Aisha, who combines this with CheerfulChild.
* FinalDeath - Watch those LP; if ''those'' run out...
* FiveManBand - Since there's five slots in the party, it's easy enough to build your own take on this. Who fills what roles obviously varies.
* GenkiGirl - ''Aisha''.

* GlobalCurrencyException - To train in Classes, you need Jewels. While you receive these from {{Sidequest}}s, some chests, and using skills, the cost for higher levels add up ''fast''.
* TheGodsMustBeLazy - Some of the gods take a more direct hand in matters than others; thankfully, the evil gods aren't the ''only'' ones who are active. Your actions attract the attention of different gods; [[RelationshipValues impressing them enough]] (by taking quests they find interesting/benefical or even just fighting different types of monsters) can lead to them abruptly intervening during battle, to impressive effect.

* GuideDangIt - Certain subquests fall into this.

* HiddenElfVillage - Merholm. [[spoiler: In this case, though, the inhabitants only head there ''after'' deciding that the world's growing too dangerous.]]
* HolyHandGrenade - Cosmology. A few [[HealingHands protective spells]] compliment [[PureEnergy THE RAW POWERS OF THE HEAVENS THEMSELVES]].
* HonorBeforeReason - Theodore ''adores'' this.
* HostageForMacGuffin - [[spoiler: You are the hostage held by Scorn and Schiele has to give up her Fatestone to save you. However it was a RestrainingBolt keeping her dark magic sealed away causing her to awaken as her old self: Schirach, she quickly kills Scorn, leaving the stone behind for you to keep.]]
* HumanSacrifice - Unrelated to the VirginSacrifice below is how [[spoiler: ''the player'' can engage in this, by venturing into the Underworld and offering up one of your party members to Death. Death always takes the second person in the party, not [[FourIsDeath the fourth as you might expect]].]]
* IdeaBulb - Always appears over a character's head when they learn a new technique.
* ImpossiblyCoolClothes - Appears a lot in ''Minstrel Song''; not only did everyone get makeovers for TheRemake, they all ended up with ''very'' fancy and detailed clothes. Even Jamil and the others living in the slums of South Estamir...
* InexplicableTreasureChests - Both sitting around visible to all and 'hidden', requiring the use of a certain skill to reveal it.
* ItsPersonal - [[spoiler: Jamil towards the Assassin's Guild after learning what they did to Dowd/Farah's mother.]]

* JusticeWillPrevail - Albert's worldview, taken to eleven by Lord Theodore and the Knights of the Dominion.
* KarmaMeter - Related to the RelationshipValues with the Gods: you can curry favor with the evil Gods, too. There aren't many opportunities for this ([[GuideDangIt outside of knowing where to fight and how to perform the combo the bad Gods like]]), but [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential when they come up]]...
* Creator/KenjiIto - Composed the entire ''Romancing Sa Ga'' series music.
* KnightInShiningArmor - [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by the start of one scenario, [[spoiler: and {{Subverted}}; Neidhart saves Aisha, but she's more curious about his kingdom than she's interested in him, and he has his own LoveInterest in [[ActionGirl Diana]].]]
* LastOfTheirKind - [[spoiler: The Taralians are descendants of the the goddess Nisa's chosen. During the last war between the gods, she sheltered them in [[HiddenElfVillage her underground temple]]; they emerged to find the world vastly changed and their culture all that remained of the old world.]]
* LawfulStupid - Lord Theodore. So utterly convinced that ''his'' [[HonorBeforeReason code of honor trumps everything else]], to the point where he's perfectly willing to execute one of his most loyal knights over suspected cowardice... because said knight got slashed in the back during an ambush. And without a witness to confirm they ''were'' ambushed, he assumes the knight broke the code and [[DirtyCoward tried to run away]], something knights ''never do'' in Theodore's mind.
* {{Leitmotif}} - Each of the leads has their own theme, ranging from Aisha's airy music box-ish 'Feel the Wind' and Jamil's easygoing 'I'll Take All The Treasure!' to Albert's heroic fanfare 'Hope For Justice' and Sif's steady 'Courage Becoming Resolve'.
* LizardFolk - Guella Ha and the other Gecklings.

* MadScientist - Ewei. If that's not bad enough, he's a FlunkyBoss ''and'' ThatOneBoss.
* MakingASplash - Hydrology. [[HealingHands Default healers]] combined with [[TimeStop time manipulation]] and summoning magical fish to ram your opponent.
* MasterOfIllusion - [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Illusion]]. [[FireIceLightning Fire, Ice and Lightning spells]], phantom {{Body Double}}s, plus the ability to [[StandardStatusEffects put enemies to sleep or snap friends out of it]].
* MindOverMatter - Demonology. [[DarkIsNotEvil Sure, it's]] ''[[DarkIsNotEvil dark]]'' [[DarkIsNotEvil energy]], but it's used mainly for {{Status Buff}}s and energy waves.
* MineralMacGuffin - The Fatestones. They're even different types of jewels (Ruby, Aquamarine, Topaz, Opal, and so on) and can be equipped for various bonuses.
* MoneySpider - Gold Dragon. They always drop Pure Gold which sells for 1000G. There is a little trick involving having to only fight them during the Mine Assaulted quest. Do not save any of the miners when farming Gold Dragons as it may remove them from the passageways. Simply kill and return.
* MultipleEndings - The scenes that play depend on what quests you finished, who was in your party, and other decisions both major and minor.
* MutuallyExclusiveMagic - Opposing elements cancel each other out, barring you from having a full selection of spells: [[PlayingWithFire Pyrology]] opposes [[MakingASplash Hydrology]], [[BlowYouAway Aerology]] opposes [[DishingOutDirt Terrology]], [[MasterOfIllusion Illusion]] opposes [[MindOverMatter Demonology]], [[HolyHandGrenade Cosmology]] opposes [[BadPowersBadPeople Sorcery]], and [[StatusBuff Bewitchery]] opposes [[BadPowersBadPeople Necromancy]]. However, there's a way around this: [[spoiler: Certain weapons channel magic. Teach a caster all the spells of that class ''before'' learning the non-barred class, then equip the channeling weapon on them. Voila! Just remember that the channeling cost is based on your skill with that weapon, ''not'' any actual talent with the magic itself...]]

* NeglectfulPrecursors - The pantheon of Gods is [[AllThereInTheManual mostly the second generation]]; the original, ancient gods ''left'' after the war between them tore Mardias apart. Apparently they couldn't be bothered to help clean up. And all this was ''before'' Saruin started acting up...
* NewGamePlus - Mainly lets you choose your next hero's starting class, along with raising the Jewels payout with each new generation. Also unlocks a few quests, or in one case, carries over your progress in it. Now, if you manage to complete all eight heroes' stories in a single save file...
* NiceHat - ''Very'' common in ''Minstrel Song''. Most of the heroes have unique or distinct headgear; so do most recruitable characters and important [=NPCs=]... even regular [=NPCs=] can get nice hats if they're [[YouALLLookFamiliar the right model]].
* NinjaPirateZombieRobot - "Vampire mummies are on board; please disembark in an orderly fashion."

* NotGoodWithPeople - It's not that Claudia's shy or snobby; she simply isn't ''used'' to dealing with others outside of Eule and her animal friends.
* OurMermaidsAreDifferent - Followers of Yucomb, god of the sea, who can take human form with his blessing. One of the Minstrel's tales is a fable about the Nymph Statues that connects them to mermaids: [[spoiler: According to the fable, the statues are actually three of Yucomb's daughters, TakenForGranite after a StarCrossedLovers incident.]]
* PirateGirl - Captain Silver.
* PlayingWithFire - Pyrology. Combines the usual flame-flinging fun with protection and [[HealingFactor auto-revival]]
* PrestigeClass - The Legendary Classes, which all have the same effect: lowering the cost of all your techniques. However, this also means you don't get to enjoy the bonuses ''other'' classes offer, some of which are arguably much better, like [[GameBreaker Rosalian Mages and Imperial Scholars]].
* QuestForIdentity - Recruitable ally Darque's subplot revolves around this.
* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld - [[spoiler: Captain Silver.]]
* RelationshipValues - Not with your party members, but with the ''Gods''.
* {{Reincarnation}} - [[spoiler: It is AllThereInTheManual - When any life dies, be it man, beast or flora, when they arrive in the Netherworld they must abandon their memories of their lives in order to be reborn, otherwise they must remain in the filth of Purgatory until the stress forces them to abandon their memories.]]
* TheRemake - ''Minstrel Song''
** RemadeForTheExport - Minstrel Song was the first Romancing Saga game released in the West and was simply titled "Romancing Saga".
* SealedEvilInACan - Saruin, obviously, as per the {{Backstory}}; also, [[spoiler: The Jewel Beast, destroyer of the Frontier unless [[GuideDangIt the player delays his awakening]]... and sometimes not even ''THEN''.]]
* SecretLegacy - Claudia is actually [[spoiler: [[RagsToRoyalty the princess of Melvir]], whose mother died shortly after her birth, and was given to Eule to protect her from assassins. [[TomatoInTheMirror Naturally, Claudia herself is the only one unaware of this]].]]
* SelfImposedChallenge - Easy in-game path to one: Collect all the Fatestones [[spoiler: and set them on the altars in the TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon. Voila, super-powered Saruin. Have... fun?]]
* ShoutOut - Odd example: the unlucky Louie and his [[Creator/{{Disney}} two]] [[Creator/CarlBarks identical]] [[WesternAnimation/DuckTales brothers]].
* ShutUpHannibal - Before the final battle, [[spoiler: Saruin makes a dramatic speech about making the world pay for his past humiliation and imprisionment. Your hero tells him to stop whining already and get to the fighting.]]
* SplitPersonality - [[spoiler: Poor Darque]] suffers from a form of this that can turn into a full-fledged SplitPersonalityTakeover if you [[spoiler: favor Aldora.]] Sucks to be them.
* SpoonyBard - While The Minstrel is a decent ally, easily available for most of the game, he automatically leaves whenever you enter a pub, [[spoiler: can't participate in any of the three ending quests, and if you complete the Trials of Elore, he won't rejoin you ''at all'',]] so trying to use him may be more trouble than it's worth.

* StatusBuff - Bewitchery. All about self-enhancement, [[HealingFactor self-healing]], and the odd [[KiAttacks Ki Attack]].
* TheStoic - Claudia and Gray.
* SummonMagic - All the different schools include a 'Summon Elemental' spell, calling a ElementalEmbodiment to take your place in battle for a bit. [[AwesomeButImpractical Since they're limited to just that element, though, this isn't quite as great as it sounds.]]
** There is Stimulacrim - Summon a Snowman to fight in your stead, only problem is that it eats up a lot of BP and possibly LP but the Snowman summons can replace all characters and each Snowman has 777 HP, if Character was [=KOed=] when Snowman was summoned, the HP of it will be halved.

* TreasureMap - Can be [[RandomlyDrops Randomly Dropped]] by various monsters, directing you to the appropriate dungeon in hopes of unearthing some really good/rare equipment... though you can only find and unearth the chests with the proper skills. One also figures into a subquest: tracking down Captain Silver's Treasure.
* {{Tsundere}} - Farah towards Jamil.
* UrbanSegregation - North Estamir is a bustling port town where the upper class wallow in comfort; South Estamir is a slum ruled by slavers, thugs and beggars.
* VirginSacrifice - Involved in two different quests; in the first instance, [[spoiler: you can actually choose to ''walk away'' and abandon the victim to her fate rather than tail the guy into the sewer. This earns you massive points with Saruin, though you obviously lose out on the reward.]]
* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon - No matter which of the three ending quests you use to unlock it, it all comes down to the same place: [[spoiler: Saruin's prison Quietus, sealed beneath Isthmus Keep.]]
* WaifFu - The Martial Arts skill allows ''anyone'' to specialize in this. Barbara, in particular, always starts out with this.
* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou - If your chosen hero [[FinalDeath loses all their LP]], that's it -- Game Over.
* WideEyedIdealist - Albert. Aisha also fits, drifting towards the {{Pollyanna}} later on.
* WithCatlikeTread - When pirates raid a town, they do so ''loudly''. With their [[EarWorm theme song]] blasting the entire time.

----
''[=Romancing SaGa=]'' contains examples of:

* ShoutOut - Odd example: the unlucky Louie and his [[Creator/{{Disney}} two]] [[CarlBarks identical]] [[WesternAnimation/DuckTales brothers]].

* ShoutOut - Odd example: the unlucky Louie and his [[{{Disney}} two]] [[CarlBarks identical]] [[WesternAnimation/DuckTales brothers]].

* AntiGrinding - The Event Rank system makes grinding a generally bad idea... [[spoiler: Until late in the game, if you're trying to reach ER 22 and unlock Frosthold Fortress 'the long way''.]]

* Reincarnation - [[spoiler: It is AllThereInTheManual - When any life dies, be it man, beast or flora, when they arrive in the Netherworld they must abandon their memories of their lives in order to be reborn, otherwise they must remain in the filth of Purgatory until the stress forces them to abandon their memories.]]